pronounced among the Hebrews; this measure is noted in the Chronicles of Eusebius and other chronologers, as each of the emperors of those days, out of a desire to display his magnificence, was wont to distribute a largesse to the Roman people for them to feast upon; which term signifies the same as "joined" or "coagmented."
OF OUR HOLY FATHER EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP OF CYPRUS, TO DIODORUS, BISHOP OF TYRE, A BOOK CONCERNING THE TWELVE GEMS WHICH WERE IN THE VESTMENTS OF AARON
A You have requested of me, most honorable Diodorus, regarding the gems which the Lord commanded to be set in the rational (oracles) or the breastplate upon the chest of the priest Aaron; that I should explain to you in few words not only their names, colors, or appearances, and their physical sites, and the contemplations they yield toward piety, but also to which tribe each gem was assigned, and where it is found, and from what country it comes: this is how it stands.
The rational is described as quadrangular, and it possesses a span in length and the same in breadth. In the first row, the first gem is the sardius, then the topaz, then the smaragdus. The second B row has for its first gem the carbuncle, for the second the sapphire, for the third the jasper. In the third row are the ligurius first, then the achates, then the amethyst. In the fourth, the first is the chrysolithus, the second the beryllus, the third the onychium. These, then, are the twelve gems which were attached to the humeral (ephod) of the priest, whose differences and places are these:
C 1. The first gem is the Babylonian sardius, so called. It is of a fiery appearance and blood-red in color, resembling the sardius fish, preserved in salt and aged; for which reason it is also called "sardius," having taken its name from its appearance (color). It is found in Babylon of the Assyrians. The stone is transparent; its power is medicinal, D and physicians use it for tumors and other wounds inflicted by iron. There is also another, the sardonyx, which is called molochites; it has the power of softening steatomata. This is of the same color as the former, but slightly greenish. It is, however, very heavy...
toward the beginning of spring, because that is the beginning of the affections. A
II.
The topaz is a gem that is redder in appearance than the carbuncle. It is found in the city of Topaza in India, discovered once there by stonemasons in the heart of another stone; when they saw it was brilliant, and showed it to some Thebans, they sold it for a small price. The Thebans brought it to the queen who was governing the kingdom at that time. She placed it in her diadem in the middle of her forehead. This gem B has the following experimental quality: when rubbed on a whetstone, it does not produce a juice that is red like its color, but milky. And he who rubs it fills as many vessels as he wishes, and its former weight is not diminished at all. This juice is useful for eye diseases. When drunk, it opposes dropsy, and heals those wasting away from the effect of sea-grape.
III.
The emerald gem.
This is also called the green stone, and it is green in appearance, though there is some difference among them. For some call them Neronian, others Domitian. The Neronian one is small in form, very green, transparent, and shining. They are called Neronian or Domitian for the following reason: they say that Nero or Domitian poured oil into many vessels, and after a period C of time the oil took on a green color, and that this stone, being more abundantly soaked with this oil, blossomed with a more florid color. Others say that a certain Nero, an ancient craftsman and stone-cutter, discovered the principal use of the emerald, and that this gem was called Neronian from him, but others prefer to call it Domitian. There are also other emeralds. The first is born in Judea, very similar to the Neronian; the other in Ethiopia, which they also say is born in the Phison river. The Phison, however, is called the Indus by the Greeks, and among the Barbarians, the Ganges. They also say that the carbuncle is born in this river. For there, says Moses, is the carbuncle and the green gem. They say also that the emerald returns images like a mirror. Myth-makers also D declare it has the power to predict future events.IV.
The carbuncle gem glows with a purple color. It is born in Carthage of Libya, which is called Africa. There are those who say this gem is found in this way: it is not seen during the day, but at night it appears from afar like a lamp or a sparkling coal, and it shines from a distance. Those who search for it, recognizing this, easily find it. Worn, no matter what clothes cover it, it cannot be hidden. For its splendor appears outside the garments: whence it is also called the carbuncle. Somewhat, though slightly, similar to the carbuncle is the gem called
A the carbuncle, which some call the color of dark wine. There is also a gem called the Chalcedonian, not unlike this one, since it is found in the same place.
V.
Concerning the Sapphire
The sapphire gem turns purple, like the species of *blatta*, that is, of black purple. There are many kinds of this. For there is the royal sort, dappled with golden specks, yet this is not held in as great admiration as that which turns wholly purple. This, too, is said to exist both in India and in Ethiopia. Therefore, they say that among the Indians there is a temple built to Bacchus, which has three hundred and sixty-five steps made of sapphire stone, although many do not give credence to this. The stone is indeed admirable, most beautiful, and most pleasant; B for this reason it is also accustomed to be set in bracelets and necklaces, and that especially by kings. It also has a place among remedies; for when ground down and mixed with milk, it heals wounds caused by white pustules and tubercles, if smeared upon the ulcerated areas. It is also written in the Law that the vision which appeared to Moses on the mountain, and the legislation given, is said to have been manifested on a sapphire stone.VI.
Concerning the Jasper
Jasper gem. This has the form (or color) of an emerald. It is found on the banks of the river Thermodon, and near the town of Amathus in Cyprus. C Of this stone called Amathusian there are many kinds. As regards color, it is green like the emerald, but duller and more obscure. Internally, the body has a greenish cast, similar to verdigris, and it has veins of four orders. This expels harmful phantasms, as some storytellers claim. There is another kind, more sea-green than the sea, and deeper in flower and tint. Another is found in the caves of Mount Ida in Phrygia, more pellucid than the purple which is dyed with the blood of the marine whelk, and more similar to the color of dark wine, and deeper than amethyst. For the jasper is not of one single color or power; but one type is softer and whiter, which neither shines greatly, nor again is it devoid of splendor; D another is like icy water. The storytellers maintain that by this very stone phantasms are driven away. It is found, moreover, among the Iberians and the Hyrcanian shepherds who dwell in the land near the Caspian sea. There is also another jasper, not very shining, but green, which has lines within it. And there is another called the ancient jasper, similar to snow or the foam of the sea. This, the storytellers claim, both venomous beasts and also specters fear.VII.
Concerning the Ligyrius
Ligyrius or lyncurius gem. Concerning its discovery, we have learned nothing, neither among the investigators of nature nor among other ancients who have made mention of these things. We have found, however, a gem called *lancurium*in the common tongue. And I suspect that this is indeed the *ligurium* [jacinth], since the divine Scriptures have transposed the names; as, for instance, they call the emerald "green." And since, somehow, in the naming of these stones, they made no mention of the *hyacinth* [jacinth], even though it is a prominent and precious stone known to all, it occurred to me that perhaps the divine Scripture calls this the *ligurium*. Now, the hyacinth has varying appearances. For the deeper the stone is found in its color, the more excellent it is than the others. The hyacinth is like the color of wool that is somewhat A reddish-purple. For this reason, the divine Scripture says that the priestly garments were adorned with hyacinth and purple. And the first stone is called *marinus* [sea-colored]; the second, *roseus* [rose-colored]; the third, *nativus*; the fourth is called *chauniaeus*; and the fifth, *perileucus* [whitish]. These gems are found in the inner Barbaria of Scythia; and because they are very precious, they also possess a marvelous efficacy: for when thrown into burning coals, they are not only far from being consumed, but they even extinguish the coals themselves; and not this alone, but if anyone wraps this gem in a small cloth and casts it into the burning coals, the cloth itself is preserved unharmed. It is said, moreover, that this gem is beneficial to women in labor, so that they may give birth more easily. Furthermore, it puts specters to flight.
VIII. The Agate Gem
Some have suspected that this gem is the same as the one called *perileucus*, which we mentioned in our discussion of the hyacinth. The gem is marvelous, being bluish in color, and having on the outside a circumference white like marble or ivory. This, too, is found around Scythia. There is also a species of agate that has the color of a lion. If it is ground with water and smeared upon the bite of a venomous creature, it averts the venom of a scorpion, vipers, and suchlike poisonous beasts. B CIX. Amethyst Gem
This gem has a circumference burning with a deep, flame-like color; but the circumference itself is whiter in the middle, and it vibrates with the color which the Greeks named from wine. Its form is various, and perhaps it, too, is born in the mountains of Libya. One kind of it is similar to pure hyacinth, while another is like purple: and it is born on the shore and in the precipitous maritime places of that same Libya.X. Chrysolite Gem
Some have called this *chrysophyllum*. It indeed resembles gold in its color. It is found, however, in a double-stone well near the walls of the Achaemenidian Babylon. For they call Babylon—and that well—Achaemenidian, because they say the father of King Cyrus was called Achaemenes. Dand chrysopastus. This, when ground and drunk, has a medicinal power for those with stomach and celiac ailments. A
XI. Beryl is a sea-colored stone, appearing sea-green, having the appearance also of the more watery jacinth. It is found near the end of the mountain called Taurus. If anyone should wish to look at this opposite the sun, it appears like glass containing translucent grains of millet inside. Another type of beryl is similar to the pupils of a serpent's eyes. There is also yet another, similar to wax. This appeared near the outlet of the Euphrates river.
XII. The onyx stone. This stone has a very yellow color. B It is said that B the brides of kings, or of wealthy men, take delight in this stone, and they have it fashioned into their own cups. There are also other "onychites" (onyx-like stones) called by this name synonymously, which are similar to honey-colored wax. Some say they are coagulated and frozen from still water. They call them "onychites" in light of natural science, since the nail of elegant men is similar to marble, yet not without the appearance of blood. Others, however, also call the marble stone itself—based on the assay of the nail—falsely by the name "onychite," on account of the purity of its whiteness. C
CONCERNING THE ADMANTINE STONE,
Which the High Priest also wore three times a year when entering into the Holy of Holies.The stone is the adamas (diamond), similar in color to the air. The high priest wore this when he entered into the Holy of Holies. C He entered three times in the year: at the feast of the Passover, of Pentecost, and of Tabernacles. It was placed upon the breast of the high priest when he was being clothed in the full-length tunic, and over the tunic he was clothed with the ephod. The ephod descended a little below the breast; for its length was a span and a half. On the right and on the left, above the nipples, where two small shields were sewn on, two emeralds were suspended. In the middle of these was the "declaration," which was the aforementioned adamas, reflecting an airy color. D Above the shoulders were the twelve stones already indicated. Three times, as it has been said, it was shown to the people through the year by means of the plate. And if they were found in sin, and had not walked in the commandments which God had given, the color of the stone, they say, would change and become black; and from this it was known that the Lord had sent death. When he was sending them into the swords, he was...
it became the color of blood; as he says in Jeremiah: Send forth his people, and let them go out, as many as are for death, to death; and as many as are for the sword, to the sword; and as many as are for famine, to famine; and as many as are for captivity, to captivity. But if it became bright as snow, the people knew that there was no sin anywhere; and then they held a festival, as the prophet says: Keep your festivals, O Judah, pay your vows; the Lord has taken away your iniquities. He has redeemed you from the hand of your enemies. The Lord shall reign in your midst. You shall see evil no more. For this reason, even in the time of Zechariah, the father of John, when his turn came A at the Passover, the stone was shining bright. For then he began the year of his priestly service. And at the following turn another took up the long robe; and at that time, because Zechariah was lingering in the Holy of Holies, the people were anxious, lest the stone should B be a proof of sin against them. But when he came out, realizing that he had seen a vision of great glory, they rejoiced greatly. For John, who was to be the herald of Christ, was about to be born. Wherefore also the golden plate appeared glorified.
Since, however, these twelve stones were commanded to be inserted into the Rational, according to the twelve tribes of Israel, so that each stone should correspond to one tribe, we shall come, following the previous division, C to the sequence of the sons born of Jacob. For thus it is appropriate to arrange them.
Sons of Leah four: Reuben, sardius; Simeon, topaz; Levi, emerald; Judah, carbuncle. Sons of Bilhah two. Bilhah was the maidservant of Rachel. And since she did not bear children, she gave her to Jacob as a wife in order to have children by her. And these were born of her: Dan, sapphire; Naphtali, jasper. Sons of Zilpah two. Zilpah was the maidservant of Leah, and she gave her to Jacob as a wife in order to have children by her. And these are they: Gad, ligure; Asher, agate. Sons of Leah two: Issachar, amethyst; Zebulun, chrysolite. Sons of Rachel two: Joseph, beryl; Benjamin, onyx. These are the twelve gems arranged, D corresponding to each tribe of Israel.